Nigeria struggles to contain meningitis outbreak

In Nigeria, health authorities are struggling to contain a deadly meningitis outbreak that started last October in the northern part of the country. The disease has so far spread to 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states, killing 151 persons. Most deaths have been caused by the delayed treatment of infected people, who often arrived at health facilities after developing severe complications. According to health providers, this is due to the disease spreading in remote areas far from hospitals and health centres. The current outbreak has also hit the West African nation as its health sector is facing the impact of US aid cuts by the Trump administration in February. The country relied heavily on such aid to fight similar epidemics in the past.
Meningitis is common in Nigeria during the dry season, especially in northern regions. Last week, the global vaccine alliance Gavi donated over 1 million vaccine doses to Nigerian authorities to fight the disease. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is also ramping up disease surveillance with a focus on tracking new cases, laboratory testing, and public awareness campaigns. Residents are urged to take precautionary measures and seek immediate medical help if they experience symptoms like fever, stiff neck, and severe headache. However, access to medical treatment remains a problem. According to Simba Tirima, Nigeria’s country representative for Doctors without Borders (MSF), the most vulnerable people live in remote areas and arrive in the hospital too late, as meningitis often progresses fatally in 24 hours. He also emphasized the need for mass vaccination campaigns to protect the population.